Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-10-15, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Adult Day Services reminds of the importance of volunteers By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — With October being named `Community Support Month,' Midwestern Adult Day Services is reminding the public of the importance of volunteering. "We desperately need volunteers," said, co-ordinator Tammy Antaya, who works in the Exeter and Grand Bend Adult Day Services sites. Other sites are in Wingham, Goderich and Clinton. Oct. 20-26 is Adult Day Program Week and each site will have special events planned for its clients. Clients of Midwestern Adult Day Services, a registered charity, include those who are aging, facing physical challenges or are experiencing chronic illness or conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Not only do the ser- vices offered by Adult Day Services improve the quality of life for the clients, they provide peace of mind for care- givers and gives them a break. Volunteers are needed for such things as driving clients, working in the kitchen and working with the clients in the vari- ous programs. Volunteer drivers are reimbursed for their mileage. Socialization for the clients is impor- tant, Antaya said, adding that when they arrive in the morning, they are offered coffee or tea and toast and then go through an exercise program with men- tal stimulation activities. Lunch is fol- lowed by physical activities and games like cards or dominoes. The Exeter Adult Day Centre is open Tuesday and Thursday, while the Grand Bend site is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Activities also include discussions, music and singing, crafts and guest speakers. Services include foot and nail care, hydrotherapy, weight and blood pressure monitoring, wheelchair and hearing clinics, outings and shopping. "The staff are amazing," says volun- teer services manager Nancy Hallowell - Scott. She said as the population ages, services such as those offered by Midwestern Adult Day Services are becoming increasingly necessary, as are volunteers. Hallowell -Scott's position with Adult Day Services is a new one and her role is to recruit new volunteers. Potential vol- unteers, who need to be 18 or over, will be interviewed and will need to have a police background check done. They will also go through an orientation and train- ing period. Antaya says the organization is looking for "anybody with a heart and a helping hand." High school students looking to fulfill their volunteer hour requirements are also encouraged to volunteer. Midwestern Adult Day Services runs a `Stroke Day' on the second Thursday of every month from 3-4 p.m. at its Clinton location, which includes programming dedicated to stroke survivors and their caregivers. The agency is also holding a raffle to raise funds for client subsidies. Tickets are $5 and prizes include $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000. Anyone interested in the raffle or in volunteering can call Antaya at 235- 4600. Volunteers needed — Midwestern Adult Day Services is celebrating `Community Support Month' in October.The registered charity needs more volunteers like Jeanette Regier, back left, and Mary Jacobs, back right. In front from left are clients Elaine Brandon and Trudy Pollard. (photo/Scott Nixon) Public meeting to discuss Exeter Dam EXETER — A proposed Environmental Assessment study of Exeter Dam in MacNaughton Park would look at options for the future of the dam and the accom- panying reservoir. Residents and other interested people are invited to attend a public meeting about the dam Thurs., Oct. 23 at South Huron Recreation Centre in Exeter from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Exeter Dam is owned by the Municipality of South Huron. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has received a grant to cover 50 per cent of the cost to look at future options for the dam and reservoir. The study, if completed, would identify costs to the municipality for the vari- ous options, which could range from continuing to maintain the dam to starting a process to decommission the dam. The input of members of the public is important for the coun- cil and the ABCA to determine if an Environmental Assessment related to the dam should go ahead, according to the munici- pality. Mayor Ken Oke strongly urges ratepayers to come out and express their desires and con- cerns at this public meeting. "The mill pond and dam in Exeter have been considered an asset to the community in the past," he said. "Their future depends on how you wish your council to proceed with dealing with this situation and your input may determine whether we proceed with the study." Some members of the public have complained in the past about the aesthetics of green growth that has sometimes appeared on the water's surface. This could be studied as part of the Environmental Assessment, according to the ABCA. "An Environmental Assessment would provide the municipality with a clearer picture of the costs associated with maintaining or decommissioning the site," said ABCA general manager Tom Prout. "The study could also look at some of the environmental ques- tions and provide options for how to best plan for the site in the future, whether the dam is main- tained or decommissioned." The public will have the oppor- tunity at the meeting to hear about the dam's history, current use and water quality. Attendees will also hear about what would be included in the study and what would not be part of its scope. A short presentation related to the water quality in the reservoir is also part of the event. There will also be time for sever- al delegations to present to the meeting. To make a presentation to the meeting phone Prout or Alec Scott at the ABCA at 235-2610 to confirm a time. Van Loan speaks to South Huron class Continued from front page One of Van Loan's other jobs is to be the question period co-ordinator for the government. He chairs a daily meeting of the cabinet where they try and guess what ques- tions will be asked by the other parties. During question period, Van Loan said he acts as a quarterback for the party and decides who will answer the questions, since it is not always obvious. Van Loan said in his job as MP for York-Simcoe, he also needs to take care of his constituents who he said sometimes have real problems with governments. Van Loan said he has also worked to protect Lake Simcoe, which he said was dying and which now has regulations in place to prevent dumping of phos- phates and other materials in it. One of his other accomplishments, said Van Loan, while working with the provincial Conservative Party, was to bring the various right wing parties under the Conservative Party. Van Loan said one of the differences in election campaigns now is that voters have become consumers and parties have to work harder to get their vote. He also stressed the importance of Canada's role in the world. "Canadian val- ues are critically important on the world stage." While the family was escaping from Estonia, Van Loan said what may have saved them was the ability of his mother, who was still a child, to speak German, which he said amused soldiers enough to let the family get away. "It's the little moments on which life depends," he said. `Doors Open' Continued from front page her green light bobbing among the trees and tales of her haunting the area have been passed down through the decades. Doors Open takes place countywide and will show off the most famous `haunted' sites in the county. There are over 40 sites open free of charge across Huron County to tour and see over the two days. There will be a full slate of spooky and entertaining activities includ- ing: author readings, archi- tectural walking tours, ghost walks and psychic readings. For more information, visit www.hauntedhuron.com REGIONAL WRAP Bayfield impressions BAYFIELD — Bayfield residents saw their community through the eyes of visitors at a meeting Sept. 29 at Bayfield town hall, said the Clinton News -Record. The meeting was to provide feedback from the First Impressions Community Exchange program, which was developed by the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs to pair similar com- munities together to provide information on each other. At the meeting, feedback was provided about the visit of four residents from Kingsville who were in Bayfield June 27. The visitors said some of the most appealing features of the community include trees, land- scaping and large estate homes. Dryer rack giveaway SEAFORTH— Customers of Festival Hydro have the chance at a free clothes -dryer rack from the company, said the Huron -Expositor. The promotion will see 1,300 free racks given away on a first-come, first served basis on three days in three locations. One of the locations will be Oct. 16 at the Festival Hydro service centre at 35 Oak St in Seaforth from 4-7 p.m. with one per house- hold. Lipizzaners coming GODERICH — The word famous Lipizzaner Stallions are coming to Goderich Oct. 22-23, said the Goderich Signal -Star. Fourteen hors- es will perform in the show which is making 22 stops in Canada. The show will see the horses perform their classical -dressage movements that originated more than 400 years ago in the Austrian mili- tary. Pot bust on Saintsbury LUCAN BIDDULPH — Two individuals have been charged with production of a controlled substance after Middlesex OPP discovered 30 marijuana plants during a search warrant on Saintsbury Line Oct. 3.